Epidemiology Program

Return to: College of Health Sciences

Epidemiology (MPH, PhD, Graduate Certificate)

Telephone: 302-831-161​0
Email: mph-info@udel.edu
Department webpage: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/epidemiology/
Faculty Listing: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/chs/departments/epidemiology/faculty/

Program Overview

The Epidemiology program includes the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology and the Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology degree programs. The Epidemiology program also offers a Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology. Degrees are centered on the application of epidemiologic methods to research, teaching and practice in areas such as field epidemiology, cardiovascular disease epidemiology, cancer epidemiology, and others.

Admission to the Epidemiology program is based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths as admission decisions are made holistically.  Applicants to the MPH in Epidemiology must submit an application and all required materials through SOPHAS - the Centralized Application Service for Public Health and then complete a University of Delaware Supplemental Application.  Applicants to the PhD in Epidemiology or the Epidemiology Graduate Certificate may apply using the central UD graduate application.

Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (MPH)

The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology is designed to prepare students for a career in public health in either local, state or federal public health agencies or research settings. By providing students with a comprehensive foundation of population health principles, epidemiological methods, biostatistics and study design, the MPH in Epidemiology will ensure students are proficient in the skills needed to successfully enter the public health workforce.

The MPH in Epidemiology is a 42 credit graduate program that includes courses shared across an interdisciplinary core as well as a required Applied Practice Experience (practicum) and Integrative Learning Experience (capstone). Courses in epidemiologic methods and biostatistics are supplemented by courses in epidemiology content areas (e.g., disaster, cancer, cardiovascular, social, and surveillance) and public health electives from across the University of Delaware.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related discipline with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must also provide:

• Current resume.
• Statement of purpose.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation.
• The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required of all international applicants unless the applicant’s country of residency has English as an official language or the applicant has been issued a higher education degree earned from an institution in a country with English as an official language.

The University of Delaware also offers an MPH in Health Policy and Management, available through the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. The two MPH tracks share 15 credits of core courses but diverge in specialized coursework. Applicants to the MPH must apply to a specific track.

Epidemiology (PhD)

The PhD in Epidemiology provides students with advanced training in epidemiological methods and prepares them for careers in research, teaching, and applied public health. The program is designed to support students with some experience in public health who seek additional training related to research methods and their application to population health. Sample areas of focus include disaster, cancer, cardiovascular, social, and environmental epidemiology, among others. Areas of focus are driven by faculty research interests and admission to the PhD program requires matching an applicant’s research interests with a faculty member. All students receive research and/or teaching assistantships.

Requirements for Admission

PhD applicants must have an MPH, MSPH, MS or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants must also provide:

• Official GRE scores in at least the 50th percentile on quantitative and verbal reasoning within the last 5 years.
• Written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that clearly identifies the applicant’s research and curriculum interests and explains how admission to the program relates to previous research experience.
• Current resume.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.
• The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required of all international applicants unless the applicant’s country of residency has English as an official language or the applicant has been issued a higher education degree earned from an institution in a country with English as an official language.

Epidemiology Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology is a 12-credit program intended to support individuals who seek additional training in epidemiologic methods and the applied skills needed to address a broad range of health problems. The Epidemiology Certificate is specifically designed for working professionals and those interested in exploring Epidemiology prior to committing to a graduate program. The Certificate curriculum emphasizes practical, applied skills in epidemiological methods and basic biostatistics and is designed for most students to complete courses part-time or in addition to another graduate degree program and can be completed in one year of part-time study. All courses have been specially designed and developed for delivery online. All 12 credits of the Epidemiology graduate certificate may be applied toward the MPH in Epidemiology degree.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants to the Epidemiology graduate certificate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any academic field from an accredited college or university with an earned GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Applicants must also provide:

• Academic transcripts of degrees earned previously.
• Brief personal statement that addresses the following: educational background and scientific research or employment experience pertinent to the Graduate Certificate in Epidemiology; how acquiring graduate level training in epidemiology will help achieve long-term professional objectives; and, what diseases/conditions (if any) are content areas of interest and/or expertise.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• A resume or curriculum vitae that documents the applicant’s prior work experience, publications, honors and awards received, and a summary of educational credentials including documentation of relevant experience.
• The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required of all international applicants unless the applicant’s country of residency has English as an official language or the applicant has been issued a higher education degree earned from an institution in a country with English as an official language.

Programs

• Epidemiology (MPH)

• Epidemiology (PhD)

• Epidemiology Certificate

Return to: College of Health Sciences